Recording device



April 11, 1944. J. w. BRYCE RECORDING DEVICE Filed Jan. l5, 1942 8 SheeS-Sheet l IN VENT TTORNEY v .v @14m o w@ Q@ O m, Y B c w m@ e@ o m@ m N E o o f o Nox Q o Xi@ N April 11, 1944. J W BRYCE 2,346,251

RECORDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY //VJ 6. TTORNEY.

April 11, 1944. J. w. BRYCE RECORDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR TTORNE Y .mgm

April 11, 1944 J. w. BRYCE; 2,346,25

RECORDING DEVICE Filed Jan. l5, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 1l, 1944. J. w. BRYCE RECORDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13. 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVEN OR. %Q/wy C@ ATTORNEY April 11, 1944- J. w. BRYcE 2,346,251

RECORDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FllfS.1

INVENTO BY W e TTORNEY.

April 11, 1944. J. w. BRYCE RECORDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1942 8 Shee'bS-Sheel 7 254 AIAIO F'IGM.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 11, 1944. J. w. BRYCE RECORDING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Filed Jan. 13, 1942 F|G2u ff@ Patented Apr. 11, 1944 RECORDING DEVICE James W. Bryce, Glen Ridge, N. J., signor to International Business Corpora New York, N. Y., a corporation ot New York Application January 13, 1942, Serial No. 426,559

13 Claims.

This invention concerns an improved recordcontrolled photographic recorder.

One object of the present invention :resides in the provision of improved means for eiecting exposure of character un.`.er the control of record card analyzing means.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved inertialess exposure eifecting means brought into action under the control of record analyzing means whereby the use of mechanical shutters may be obviated.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a photographic recorder employing gaseous discharge tubes as exposure ei. fecting means with provisions for cyclically timing the tiring of such tubes to effective selective exposure operation. A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of improved means to obtain high potentials for effecting tube ring from a low voltage source of current supply.

Further, an object of the invention resides in the provision of condenser means to supply high voltage firing potential for the gaseous discharge tube to effect photographic exposure of selected indicia, with such condenser means beingv charged by the comparatively low voltage source of current supply.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide circuits and switching means and sets of condensers with provision for charging the condensers in parallel when connected to a low voltage current supply and for thereafter reconnecting the condensers in series relation and discharging them to eiect firing of a gaseous discharge tube.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means to detect failure of a selected exposure-enacting element to function properly.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to test the gaseous discharge exposure-effecting tubes for proper functioning when such tubes have been selected for exposing desired indicia to a illm.

Further, an obiect of the invention is to indicate which of a plurality of the gaseous discharge tubes selected for operation has failed to function.

An object is also to interrupt operation of the machine automatically upon failure of the se-v lected exposure-effecting element or elements to function properly.

More specifically, an object of the invention resides in the provision of tube failure detecting means operated by discharge of the condenser means when such condenser means have failed to discharge through the gaseous discharge exposure-eifecting tubes.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel arrangement and mounting for a bank of gaseous discharge tubes within a rotatable translucent or transparent character bearing drum having columns of characters, each column associated with one tube.

Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying speciiication and claims and shown in the drawings which show by way of illustration a preferred embodiment and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention employing the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and within the spirit of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 1a taken together, with Fig. 1a to the right of Fig. 1, show a perspective view of the improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the camera unit. 'Ihe section is taken substantially on lines 2 2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the recording section of the machine. The section is taken substantially on lines 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '4 is a similar view with the section taken on a different plane, i. e., on lines 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view showing the drum and the drive train thereto. The section is taken substantially on lines 5 5 of Fig. 4 and to larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken on lines 6 6 of Fig. 5 and shows the mountings for the neon tubes within the drum;

Fig. 6a is a detail view of a tube mounting on a larger scale than in Fig. 6;

Fig. '7 is a detailed, sectional view of the card feeding section of the machine, the section being taken substantially on lines 1 1 of Fig. 1a;

Fig. 8 is a timing diagram;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a section of the nlm showing the characters as recorded thereon after development of the nlm;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the character carrying drum;

Fig. 11 shows a development of the drum for one complete column of characters; and

Fig. 12 shows a circuit diagram.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and la, the machine in general comprises a record handling and record reading section which is shown to the extreme right in Fig. 1a. In Fig. 1 there is shown the recording section of the unit in the machine. Suitable shafting connects the recording section and the record handling and analyzing section. 0n Fig. 1a, 20 is the driving motor. This motor through the usual worm searing and shafts is adapted to drive a main drive shaft 2i.

This main drive shaft 2l directly drives parts in the recording section as will be subsequently described. It also drives the so-called C cams. Fast on shaft 2l is a gear 22 which drives a gear 23. Fast to gear 23 is a one-revolution clutch element 26 which is freely rotatable on shaft 25. 'I'he clutch dog 26 is carried by the member 21 which is nxed to shaft 25. Pawl 26 is adapted to be tripped into engagement with the notch in element 24 upon energization of card feed clutch magnet 28. Driven by and secured to shaft 25 are two distributing commutators CDI and CD2. Also fast to the shaft are a number of card feed cams CFl through CFB, inclusive. Gearing 29 transmits drive from shaft 25 to the main drive shaft 30 of the card handling and reading unit. This card handling and reading unit is the customary construction including the usual supply magazine 3l and a stacker or discharge magazine 32. This unit also is provided with driven card feed rolls 33 (see Fig. '1) these rolls being driven by the helical gearing shown in Fig. la). Cooperating with the driven rolls and geared therewith are upper rolls 34. 35 is a conventional fpicker driven from picker drive shaft 36, this shaft in turn being driven from the drive shaft 30 by the helical gearing shown in Fig. 1a. Bl (Fig. 7) are ad ance sensing brushes and B2 are the regular Lo'r'iain sensing brushes. These cooperate with contact rolls 31 and Se respectively. 39 and t0 are card levers which when cards are present close card lever contacts el and l2 respectively. The operation of the record handling unit will be `"readily understood. When the/card feed clutch In the drawings, for clarity of illustration, the characters are shown opaque and the drum transparent, but in actual practice the characters would be transparent and the background surface opaque. The drum is provided with a plurality of columns of characters, one such column being shown in Fig. 11. This column of characters comprises three sets of digits from 9 through 0, inclusive. With the drum in continuous rotation, i. e. rotating in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 10, the various digital characters are successively presented to an exposing position. With the drum in normal home position no character will be at the exposing position. Then if the drum commences rotation the rst character to be brought to the exposing position would be the digit 9, the next the digit 8 and so on.

Disposed within the drum are a plurality of i gaseous discharge tubes such as neon tubes. Normally these tubes are not lit. When it is desired to record a character a source of potential is momentarily applied to the neon tube at the instant the desired character is in proper position for recording. The bright light from the neon tube will trans-illuminate the character and such character will be recorded on the i'llm as will be subsequently explained. Since the drum hubs are hollow, it is possible to provide supports extending from the outside of the drum through the hubs and into the interior of the drum to support the neon tubes therein. A cable may be also led into the interior of the drum through one of the hollow hubs. Such cable affords the magnet 28 (Fig- 10) iS energized, Shaft 39 1S Set 35 connective wires to provide current to the indii in rotation, the picker 35 withdraws a c ard from vdual neon tubes- 53 designates an individual the magazine 3" advances it the driven feed neon tube. Such tube (see Fig. 6) is generally rolls and thereafter the feed olls continuously u shaped- Its terminal ends t into conductive `\ed the card mst t0 the ad ance brushes B" socket elements 56 which are molded in a block ereftef i0 the regular brushes B2 and nally 40 of insulating material es. the mock being supinto the stacker sa Recording section Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the recording sec- )tion induces a suitabxe'base se which has fast thereto a pair of side plates @E and 51. Suitable bearings in plate d@ (see Fig. 5) afford a journal for the end of drive shaft 2 l. The drive shaft 2i, through gearing generally designated 18," is adapted to drive a drum driving gear 59. 'I'his drum driving gear $9 is suitably xed to one of the end hubs 5G. Hubs 5@ are rotatably mounted in bearings 5l supported in plates 66 and 51. Fast to the hub sections 5@ are annular members 52 which support the character carrying drum 53. The drum 53 may be made of any suitable transparent material such as a transparent plastic. The drive gearing which drives the drum is preferably proportioned so that the y drinn 53 will make one complete revolution during three machine cycles, that is to say, if three cards in succession pass the regular brushes during the transit of these three cards there will be ne complete revolution of drum 53. This drive relation is for convenience in design. The cylindrical drum is preferably opaque on its surface,

,f except at the character displaying portion where /the drum is transparent or translucent. As

stated before, the drum is preferably made of a synthetic translucent or plastic material to avoid the possibility of breakage. 'I'hls cylinder is thereafter covered with an opaque surface except at the character displaying portions. These character displaying portions may be termed character patterns.

ported by brackets 54. Spring pressed balls 59 (see Fig. 6a) retain the tube in position in its condctive socket elements. The rear of each socket element receives the plug tip connected to the wire in the cable 64. Insulating separators 6l are provided between the tubes to prevent illumination from a tube related to one column to eiect other columns. It will be understood that a single neon tube is provided for each column of characters on the drum. A mask 62 with a cen- -tral slot 65 is interposed between the drum and the camera unit so that only a single line oi characters will be photographed at a time.

Camera unit Referring to Fig. 4, a strap 65 is fastened to the end plate 66 and bridges the notch therein. Plate Q6 and plate i1 (Fig. 3) are provided with upper notches to receive transverse bars 66. To one of these transverse bars there are attached a pair of inclined frame members 61. These frame members and bars 66 provide a support for a housing which is generally designated 68. One wall of the housing comprises an apertured plate 69 which is secured to a bracket 'Ill fast to the base 45. Plate 69 is also secured to the member 61. Supported on plate 69 in any suitable manner, as by welding, is a dished member 1I which in turn carries a smaller dished channel member 12. Camera housing 13 ts between the rims of the members 1l and 12 and the camera housing may be secured in place in any suitable manner as by the thumb screws 14. The main camera frame plate .15 is suitably secured to the member 1l (see Fig. 4). Plate 15 carries a stud 16 rotatably mounting a film supply spool 11 (see Fig. 2). Frame-plate 15 also has mounted thereon three rotatable shafts 18, 19 and 80, having fixed thereon film feed sprockets 8|, 82 and 83 (see Fig. 3). These sprockets are adapted to fit the film which is provided with the usual sprocket holes. A take-up spool 84 is provided for the film, this spool being mounted on a. rotatable shaft 85.

Film feed is effected upon energization and successive de-energization of a film feed solenoid 86 (see Figs. 2 and 4). Energization of this solenoid lowers a linkage 81 which carries a feed pawl 88. This pawl is engaged with a ratchet Wheel 89 which is fast to a pinion 90. Ratchet wheel 89 and gear 90 are rotatably mounted on a stud 9|. Gear 90 meshes with a gear 92 which has fast to it a smaller gear 95. Gear 95 in turn meshes with a gear 96 which is fixed to the shaft 19 which drives sprocket 82. Gearing 91 also transmits drive to the upper sprocket shaft 18. Gearing 98 also drives the lower sprocket shaft 80. The lower sprocket shaft 80 carries a pulley which through a belt 99 drives a pulley fixed to the takeup spool shaft 85. Energization of the solenoidv 86 lowers the linkage 81 and the pawl 88 carried thereby. Upon de-energization of the solenoid 86, a spring restores the linkage and pawl to normal position. During the restoring motion of the pawl it rotates the ratchet wheel 89 for one step of advance. Such step of advance of the ratchet wheel through the drive connections previously described drives the various sprocket wheels and the takeup spool and advances the film one line space. The shaft 80 which carries the lower sprocket wheel 83 is slotted at one end to receive a winding key |0| (see Fig. 2). This winding key is normally disposed in the retracted position as shown. This winding key is used to wind up the film on the takeup spool when the camera is being loaded and upon removal of film from the camera unit.

Referring to Fig. 3, a spring pressed lever |02 rests in contact with the film on the supply spool. When the film on the supply spool nears the end of the roll, the lever |02 will swing to a position in which contacts |03 are permitted to open. In a manner which will be subsequently eX- plained the opening of these contacts terminates the operation of the machine.

Referring to Fig. 3, the member 1| provides a support for a lens and shutterassembly generally designated |04. is the. shutter operating member of the shutter assembly (see Fig. 4). The shutter of this shutter lens assembly is adjusted for a so-called bulb exposure operation, It may be mentioned that the shutter is intended to be open and left open during recording and to be manually' closed whe nthe recording unit is open for inspection and repair. The shutter of this shutter assembly is opened by moving shutter operating member |05 upwardly and the shutter is closed upon return of the member to lower position. As shown in Fig. 4, the member |05 is in upper position. Part |05 abuts the top of a slide |06 having a pin and slot connection to a lever |01. Lever |01 is in turn fast to a pivot |08. One end of this pivot (see also Fig. 2) is slotted for engagement with a key |09. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4, the lever |01 is at its counterclockwise limit and the connected slide |06 is in upper position in which it holds the shutter operating member |05 in shutter opening position. In the other position of the parts, the lever |01 is in clockwise displaced position and the connected slide |06 isl in lower position in which it permits part |05 to move to shutter closing position. A spring actuated impositive detent ||0 coacts with the left hand end of lever |01 to maintain this lever in either of its two positions. Operation of the shutter accordingly may be effected by manipulationof key |09.

Circuit diagram Before the machine is started up to effect recording operations pertaining to a run of cards, certain plug connections must be iirst made. Assuming that auto-control is desired on several classification columns, plug connections are established from the plug sockets ||5 wired to the advance sensing brushes Bl for these card columns to the sockets IIS which are connected to the pickup coils p of the usual duo Wound autocontrol relays A. Other plug connections are made from sockets |1 of these same pickup coils to the double sockets 8 which are wired to the regular sensing brushes B2 for the classification columns. If two columns, for example, are to be used for auto-control, two pickup coils of relays A are plugged up in this manner and plug connections also are made from a pair of the ||9 sockets to the |20 sockets which are wired to contacts A2 of the two utilized A relays. The number of connections between ||9 and |20 depend upon the number of columns which are plugged up for auto-control.

Other plug connections are made from desired ones of the sockets I8 of the B2 brushes to sockets |2| which connect to relay coils generally designated E. It will be understood that one of these relay coils E is provided for each column of recording but for simplicity in the circuit diagram only a few of such coils are shown. The circuits which will be made through coils E are the sensing circuits to be closed by sensing of character designations to control recording of designated characters. The current supply for these sensing circuits is at relatively low line voltage. On the other hand, with the present machine, the neon tubes are fired with current at a relatively high voltage and it is desirable that the high lvoltage circuits be isolated from the sensing circuits. Accordingly, the relay coils E are utilized, these being energized under line voltage applied through the card sensing circuits. These relays E in turn are utilized to connect up the neon tubes to receive high voltage current and to be red for recording as will be subsequently explained.

The opposite terminals of each individual neon tube 58 are connected to plug sockets |22 and |23. A plug connection is made from the |23 socket of a tube to a |24 socket and another plug connection is made from the |22 .socket of the tube to a |25 socket. It will be understood that as many neon tubes are utilized as are necessary for the required number of columns to be recorded. In practice there is one neon tube for each column of char-acters upon the drum and while only a few neon tubes have been shown in the circuit diagram for simplicity of illustration, i't will be appreciated that more are provided. Other plug connections are made from sockets designated |26 to sockets |21. The latter plug connections are in the charging circuits of certain condensers commonly design-ated K.

It may here be mentioned that with the present machine exposure of variable data from the character carrying drum 53 is effected by flashing the neon tubes at the proper differential time. Such neon tubes require considerable voltage to flash or fire them. In order to provide such voltage, according to the' present invention, use is made of sets of condensers K, one set of condensers being provided for each column of data to be recorded and each such set being plugged up to one neon tube. In general, it may be stated that the condensers are charged from the relatively low voltage D. C. supply line with the condensers of each set connected in parallel. Accordingly, each condenser of the sei; will be charged to approximately the line potential of the D. C. supply line. After the condensers are thus charged and be-v fore recording, provision is made for reconnecting the condensers of each set in a series relation. With the condensers connected serially a high potential is available for ashing or firing the related neon tube.

It will be further appreciated that if a neon tube associated with a drum column should fail to fire for any recording operation, the result would be that there would be no exposure on the film for that particular column. With such a tube failure, many lines of film might be run through the machine before the tube failure was detected because it would only be after the film had been removed, developed and examined that the tube failure would be apparent or detected. To prevent such undesired operation, testing and indicating means are provided. While this testing and indicating means will be subsequently described in greater detail, its general principle of operation maybe mentioned here. If a particular neon tube fails to fire during a cycle, its related bank of firing condensers will retain a charge after the recording period of the cycle. This retained charge is utilized to energize a testing relay. If such a testing relay becomes energized, an indicating lamp pertaining to the particular column of undischarged condensers is illuminated and further the machine Ioperation is automatically terminated. Since the operator knows which particular neon tube is plugged to the undischarged condenser column, the illumination of an indicating lamp indicates which neon tube is defective and has failed to fire. On the other hand if a set of condensers after recording operations retains no charge, the testing relays will not be energized, the indicating lamp or lamps will not be illuminated and the machine operation will be permitted to continue. Tests have demonstrated that relatively short small neon tubes can be fired reliably with an applied voltage in the neighborhood of 1000 volts. While firing may occur at relatively lower voltages such as in the neighborhood of 750 volts, the firing is not as reliable at such lower voltages. Tests have also shown that when using a direct current supply of 110 volts, proper firing voltage can be obtained by using ten condensers each with a capacity of .25 microfarad and with such condensers connected in series for ring and in parallel for charging. Tests have also demonstrated that a character image can be sharply recorded on 2 photographic film such as a panchromatic XX film with a lens system operating with an aperture 4.5f and deriving light from a neon t'ube fired at approximately 1000 volts and with the light from the tube passing through a character carrying drum under the following operating conditions. The drum diameter was 3.82". It was adapted to be provided with three successive sets of numerical characters disposed about its periphery as generally indicated in Figs. 10 and ll. The drum was rotated at 200 revolutions per minute. Under these conditions of operation the lm upon development disclosed clearly defined character images. There was no appreciable blur or distortion. Tests have demonstrated that neon tubes of this type are capable of being brought up to intense illumination and completely extinguished in an extremely short time which is, however, suilicient to effect film exposure.

The above conditions of operation show that numerical recording speeds of 600 cards per minute can be attained. The attainable speeds obviously can be increased by providing faster lenses, faster films, etc. Under numerical recording conditions, 48 index points on the drum pass per revolution. At 200 revolutions per minute 9600 index points pass per minute or any index point passes the exposure position in liso of a second. Tests have further demonstrated that a neon tube can be fired utilizing a commutator to establish the circuit to the tube and accurately time the firing circuit, with the commutator completing a circuit for a period of approximately 1/1200 of a second. With such timing of tube firing, effective exposure was obtained and the condensers substantially discharged to a point where retained charge if present at all, was insufficient to energize the related testing and detecting relays.

Assuming the proper perforated records are in the supply magazine 3| (Fig. '7), the operator of the machine iirst closes main line supply switch |28 (Fig. 12) providing D. C. current supply to buses |29 and |30. The start key is now depressed, closing start key contacts |3| to complete the following circuit: from left line |29, through the serially connected Dl contacts of the various detecting and testing relays D, through the master auto-control contacts GI, through the start key contacts |3l, through the lm lever contacts |03 and through the card feed clutch magnet 28 to the other side of the line |30. A branch circuit is also completed through a holding relay H which on energization closes contacts HI. Energization of magnet 28 starts card feeding in the customary manner and the card is advanced from the supply 50 energization of relay coil M, closing contacts M2 to provide a stick circuit for the coil through cam contacts CFL Coil M also closes contacts Ml. These M| contacts and the stop key contacts and now closed contacts Hl, shunt the start key contacts |3| so that the start key may now be released and the machine will continue in automatic operation until cards are exhausted or a change in card group occurs. During the second card cycle, the first card is fed to a position in which it causes the second card lever contacts 42 to close. Accordingly, coil N is energized, closing contacts Nl which are in shunt with contacts Ml. Coil N also closes contacts N2 to provide a stick circuit for the coil by way of cam contacts CF2. The stick circuits for these relay coils M and N are provided so as to maintain the coils energized during the intervals in which the card lever con'tacts open between successive cards.

During the third card cycle, the rst card will be sensed by the B2 brushes and the second card will be sensed by the Bl brushes. At the beginning of this third cycle, a charging circuit is established to the condensers K. As explained before, there are ten condensers in each set. With card lever relay coin N energized, relay contacts N3 are closed and a circuit is established from left line |28, through N3, through a commutatoi` timer CD| to a line |32, thence through a resistor in parallel through the normally closed switching contacts R2 and the various K condensers of the set, thence out through the normally closed S2 switching contacts to a line leading to plug socket |28, thence via the plug connection to |21 to the line which extends to the opposite D. C. line |30. As soon as the various sets of condensers are charged, provision is made for reconnecting the condensers from their parallel charging relation to a series relation. Closure of cam contacts CFE at the time shown in the timing diagram establishes an energizing circuit for relays R and S. With these relays energized, the contacts R2 and S2 open and the contacts RI and Sl close. With the latter contacts closed, the several condensers K of each set are connected in series relation.

It may be here mentioned that there is a CDI timing commutator for each of the sets of condensers and all of the sets which have been connected to line |38 through plugging between sockets |28 and |21 are concurrently charged.

During the third machine cycle, the leading card is sensed, the recording control magnets E are energized, and the auto-control circuits are set up.

Assuming that the cards under the brushes have agreeing group designating periorations, the auto-control circuits are established as follows: from left side of line |29, through the M3 relay contacts, cam contacts CFB to common conductor roll 31, thence through the B| brushes sensing the group perforations, thence through the plug connections between sockets ||5 and ||8, through the pickup coils p of auto-control relays A, thence through the plug connections from ||1 to H8, back through the B2 brushes to the 38 contact roll 38, through CF1 cam contacts, through relay contacts N4 and back to the D. C. line |30. The auto-control magnets A are of the usual dual winding type and the energized pickup coils close the stick contacts A| to energize the companion holding coils h through circuits extending from line |29, through cam contacts GF4. The energized A magnets open the related A2 contacts so as to prevent energization of master auto-control relay coil G. It may be pointed out that if the cards do not have corresponding group perforations, then the A2 contacts Will remain closed and upon closure of cam contacts CF8 near the end of the cycle, the circuit of coil G will be established via, relay contacts N5. Coil G will then open contacts GI to break the card feed clutch magnet circuit.

The relay coils E are energized under the control of the B2 brushes as they sense the usual Hollerith character designating perforations in the card in columns where recording is desired. The circuits are from line |30, through the N4 contacts now closed, the CF1 contacts to contact roll 38, thence through B2 brushes, through the plug connections from ||8 to |2|, through the relay coils E and back to the D. C. line |29. It will be understood that the relays E are energized at diiferential times in accordance with the differential positions of the holes in the records. Relay coils E only energize momentarily but upon energization, they close their related El contacts. With such El contacts closed, a flashing circuit or circuits is established as will now be described.

From the right hand terminal of the lowest K condenser oi' a set, for example, the left hand set in Fig. 12, through the condenser, thence through the wire which extends to the second SI contacts from the bottom of the now closed S| contacts, then through the next condenser and so on in succession in series through the various condensers and the SI contacts, finally through the uppermost condenser, through the now closed Rl contacts, through the plug connection between plug sockets |24, |23, thence through the neon tube 58, through the plug connections between sockets |22 and |25 vio, downo wardly extending wire, through the now closed El contacts, through a timing commutator'CD2, via wire |33, back through a resistor |34, through the lowest SI contact and back to the .starting point.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the condensers discharge through the neon tube when the condensers are connected in series relation.

It may be here mentioned that the commutator CD2 is timed for a very short duration of circuit disclosure, which duration is sufficient to fire the tube and effectively expose the passing character of a character column on the drum tothe lminthe camera unit.

It will be understood that while the circuit has been traced for one particular column of condensers and for one neon tube, exposures may occur for a multiplicity of columns.

It will be understood that the related character on the drum is passing the exposure position at the time the related neon tube is illuminated under control of the corresponding index point in the card and the commutator contacts CD2 close for a short period of time in which the said index point is being sensed. The characters selected by the designations in the card columns can thus be exposed and recorded at differential points of the cycle and such exposure for different columns may occur either concurrently or at different differential times depending on whether like or unlike designations are sensed in the card columns. Exposure during a card cycle of characters in different columns will, :liloweven be effected on a common line on the After exposure, lm feed may be effected. Upon closure of cam contacts CF3 a circuit is completed from line |30, through relay contacts NB now energized, through the CFS contacts and through lm feed solenoid 86 (also see Fig. 4). Energization of the solenoid followed by its subsequent deenergization upon opening of cam contacts CF3 causes line spacing of the lm in the manner previously described.

Provision is now made for detecting proper operation or more exactly, mis-operation of the neon tube or tubes. If a tube fails to fire there will be a charge remaining in the condenser bank aiiiining to that particular tube which failed Before testing is effected, relays R and S are deenergized by opening of cam contacts CFG. Accordingly, R2 and S2 contacts reassume the normal relation shown in the wiring diagram. Assuming a charge remaining in one or more of the condensers K, current will flow from the charged condensers through the R2 contacts now closed, to a line |35, thence through relay contacts N1 now closed, through cam contacts CFS, which close at the time shown in the timing diagram, through one oi' the detecting relay coils It), through a resistor |36, up through the S2 contacts to the opposite sides of the charged condenser. 'I'he energy in the circuit thus established is suiilcient to energize the D coil, closing related contacts D2 to establish a circuit through key contacts |31, through an indicating lamp |38, through the D2 contacts, through the D relay coil, through resistor |38, through a plug connection from |28 to |21 and back to line |30. It may be here mentioned that there is a lamp |88 for each condenser column (see also Fig. 1). The operator can therefore detect by the particular lamp |38 which is illuminated, the particular condenser column and the plugged-in neon tube for which there has been a tube failure. The energization of relay D also has opened its related D| contact and the opening of such DI contact interrupts the holding circuit to the card feed clutch magnet 28, causing de-energization of the card feed clutch magnet and stopping further feed of cards through the card handling section of the machine. After there has been a tube failure, the operator detects which tube is faulty, replaces it and then provision is made for opening up the signal or warning circuit through lamp |38 and related coil D. Opening up of such circuit for relay D and circuit lamp |38 is afforded by manual operation of the key which controls normally closed key contacts |31.

With the present machine, when a change in control occurs between card groups, provision is made for effecting additional film feed to give distinct spacing between the successive diierent groups. When successive cards with the vdisagreeing group perforations traverse brushes Bl and B2, one or more of the auto-control magnets A are not energized and the related A2 contacts remain closed and when the CFB contacts close, coil G is energized as explained before, through the closed A2 contacts and the N5 contacts. Coil G closes stick contacts G2 providing a stick circuit for the coil, through cam contacts CI. vEnergization of coil G also opens contacts GI to break the card feed clutch magnet circuit, causing interruption in card feed. Coil G also closes contacts G3, establishing a circuit from line |30, through these contacts, through cam contacts C2 when closed, then through the film feed magnet 86 to line |28. Upon opening of cam contacts C2, the circuit just traced is broken and magnet 86 de-energlzed. As a result the lm is'linespaced. Coil G is still energized and contacts G3 still closed when cam contacts C3 close. Contacts C3 function to the same eiect as contacts C2. Hence a second energization and de-energization of magnet 86 occurs, causing a second line spacing of the film. Following this supplemental line spacing operation, provision is made for automatically re-initiating card feed. Reinitiation of card feed is eiected as follows: With relay contacts G4 now closed, the closure of cam contacts C4 completes a circuit from line |29, through G4, C4, to and as before, through the card feed clutch magnet 28 and coil H. Card feed of records pertaining to a following group will now automatically be resumed.

On last card operations, there is, in eiect, a break in auto-control, causing stopping of the machine operation. This break in control is due to the fact that relay contacts M3 are now open and no circuit is provided to contact oll 31.

What is claimed is:

1. In a photographic recorder with a continuously movable character carrying drum, having a plurality of columns of characters, the characters in a column being arranged in sets, the

combination of means without the drum for supporting a photographic medium in position for exposure, means for selectively exposing the characters on the drum upon said medium, said exposing means including a plurality of gaseous discharge tubes one for each column of characters, said tubes being ilxedly disposed within the drum and means for firing each tube only once at a selected differential time during the transit of a set of characters past the photographic medium, each tube upon being red trans-illuminating the drum and exposing a single character once to the photographic medium for the purpose described.

2. A cyclical machine operating in successive cycles on record cards having 4parallel columns of character designations, each card column designating a character. comprising in combination. photographing means to provide successive picture lines of multi-column characters on a film, sensing elements, one for eacn caro. column, means for continuously feeding one card each cycle past the sensing elements to be sensed concurrently in the parallel columns for designations, a character bearing drum with a lightpervious periphery having vparallel columns of character patterns, each drum column including a set of circumferentially spaced different character patterns, with like character patterns of the different drum columns being arranged in alignment parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, mechanism for rotating the drum continuously in one-to-one synchronism with the fed of a card past the sensing elements so as register the different character patterns of the drum columns with a photographing position at successive diierential times of a cycle, a bank of gaseous discharge tubes inside the drum, masking devices for masking each tube from the others, each of such tubes being disposed behind a drum column, high voltage ring circuits, one for each tube, controls, one for each circuit operable to render the circuit of a tube operable at a differential time of the cycle, means controlled by the sensing elements according to the designations sensed in a plurality of card columns during a cycle for rendering the related controls transiently effective to cause the circuits to operate for hashing the tubes at the dierential times in which the character patterns corresponding to sensed designations are registering with the photographing position with like character patterns of dierent drum columns being thereby exposed concurrently and unlike characters at successive dierential times to the same line of the film, line spacing means. and cyclic means operating in the interval between the sensing of successive record cards for causing the line spacing means to effect iiim line spacing, whereby successive lines of multicolumn character patterns are photographed upon the nlm, one such line for each sensed record card.

3. Exposure eiecting means for exposing a selected character derived from a continuously movable rotatable drum to a photographic medium, said exposure effecting means comprising a gaseous discharge tube with means for firing it, said ring means ycomprising a set of condensers adapted to receive a charge, means for connecting said condensers in parallel to receive said charge from a low voltage source supply, means for reconnecting said condensers in series preparatory to firing a tube, and means for connecting said series-connected condensers to said l I 2,346,251 v l tube at a dinerential time in the rotation ofthe l.

drum to re said tube.

4. In a photographic recorder, in combination, a gaseous discharge tube and means for firing it for e'iecting a photographic exposure, said ring meansAV including condenser means adapted -to receivel a charge and adapted to vdischarge l in the photographic recorder includes a plurality of such, gaseous discharge tubes and wherein the testing means includes means to test each of the tubes and wherein the manifesting means includes a pluralityof indicating means which indicate the tube or `tubes of the plurality of tubes which fail to ilre. l

6. A record controlled machine, including means for feeding records one by one in succession, means for'analyzing each recordvfor data designations therein, a photographic recorder including a gaseous discharge tube which is fired under thevcontrol of the record analyzing means to effect a'photographic exposure, detecting and testing meansv for determining thefailure of a tube to fire and means controlled by said detecting and testing means for supervising feed of the records.

7. A record controlled machine, including means for feeding records one by one in succession, means for analyzing each record for data designations therein, a photographic recorder including a gaseous discharge tube which is red under the control of the record analyzing means to effect a photographic exposure, detecting and testing means for determining the failure of the tube to fire and means controlled by said detecting kand testing means for manifesting that the tube has failed to ilre.

8. 'Ijhe invention according to claim 1, wherein the tube firing means includes condensers, means for connecting said condensers in parallel to a low voltage source of current4 Asupply to be charged thereby, means thereafter reconnecting said condensers ln series preparatory to firing a tube, and means including cyclically operable means and coacting record-controlled means for connecting the seriallyconnected condensers to a tube for a short period, and at a differential time during. the rotation of the drum.

9. A machine as deiined in claim 1, said firing means for the tubes comprising high voltage circuits, condenser means fox` supplying high voltage to the circuits, and means for charging the condenser means cyclically from a low voltage source.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a ro- -tating drum with a light-pervious periphery bearing parallel columns of character patterns, exposure effecting means for the character pattems comprising a bank of gaseous discharge tubes, one for each column, record-controlled circuits selectively timed to fire the tubes to expose selected character patterns of the drum columns at an exposure position, an insulating common support inside the drum and having sockets for mounting the bank of tubes, masking devices between the tubes secured to and extending from the said supDOrt, said drum having a hollow hub enabling wiring for the tubes to extend from outside the drum through the hub into the interior of the drum to connect to the tube sockets.

11. In a photographic recorder including a continuously Arotatable drum with a light-pervious periphery provided with parallel columns of character patterns, each column including a set-of diiierent character patterns successively traversing an exposure position during a cycle, the combination therewith, of means to support a light sensitive medium outside the drum in position to record exposed character patterns, exposing means comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge tubes, one'for each drum column, fixedly disposed inside the drum, and means for firing the tubes including high voltage circuits and automatic timing means for the circuits including character pattern. selecting means for the several drum columns for variably determining differential times of the cycle for closure of the circuits, with such selecting means for each column automatically effecting a new determination of differential times for closure of said circuits each cycle, whereby the same or different character patterns from a drum column are selected to be exposed in successive cycles, said tubes upon being fired by closure of the related high voltage circuits at selected differential times of the cycle trans-illuminating the drum to expose the character patterns passing the exposure position within the same or successive selected differential times of a cycle to a common line of the light sensitive medium. y

12. In a photographic recorder which includes in combination, a gaseous discharge tube which upon being fired effects a photographic exposure upon a photographic medium, a firing circuit for said tube, a bank ofv condensers, means of charging them in parallel, means for subsequently reconnecting the bank of condensers in series preparatory to firing the tube, and means for connecting the condensers to the firing circuit to effect tube firing while the condensers are serially connected wherein the means for connecting the condensers to the firing circuit includes timing means for timing the duration of the connection and providing for connection at different differential times and a co-acting differentially controlled selecting means for determining at which different differential time a tube is to be red.

13. In a photographic recorder, a gaseous discharge tube which upon being fired eifects a photographic exposure upon a photographic medium, a i'lring circuit for said tube, a bank of condensers, means for charging them in parallel, means for subsequently reconnecting the bank of condensers in series preparatory to firing the tube, and means for connecting the condensers to the firing circuit to effect tube firing while the condensers are serially connected, the means for connecting the condensers to the firing circuit including selecting means to select one of successive diiferential intervals of a cycle in which the tube is to fire. and including also timing means for exactly timing the duration of the connection of the condensers to the firing circuit during the selected interval.

JAlVfES W. BRYCE. 

